Katie Bells
 

You haven't been here long enough to remember the original Katie Bell's. It was downstairs in the same building. It was a saloon with a dance floor, and only for Villages residents and their guests. They had entertainment in the afternoon. And a really good Sunday buffet brunch. We used to go for lunch and dancing. We loved it. Upstairs was The Cattle Baron restaurant - a more upscale steak house. You could look over the balcony railing and see the entertainment and people dancing downstairs. It was very disappointing when they moved Katie Bell's upstairs and changed the design and menu. The saloon had so much more charm and great entertainment in the evenings. We always took our out-of-town visitors there. We never took them to the remodeled one upstairs. It had no charm at all. And the food was ordinary.

Been here for over 3 years and never heard of this place before reading blogs about it and we live 1/2 mile from SS. Judging by former comments, this appeared to be an old business model(large nightclub/dance clubs.

I remember Katie Belles just as you described. For some time it was residents only, then they allowed everyone, then they switched back to residents only. I remember the polo teams went there every night, some still dressed in uniform. I don't remember it being busy. When you looked up to the balcony from the square, very few, if any, were dining at the steak house. It closed because there was no interest.

Where do you live that you have trash cans? We are south of 44 and can only put plastic trash bags at the curb for trash pickup, not cans. If you put out a can the trash collectors with throw the can into the trash truck. I guess I assumed (incorrectly?) that it was like this throughout all of The Villages.

We went there a few times for dinner and dancing or dinner with a comedy show. The food was decent and the entertainment during dinner was fun and unique. Wish it was still open, but can’t expect anyone to keep a business open that isn’t making a reasonable profit. The architectural features of the building were unique and attractive, it’s a shame it will be gutted and turned into apartments. Oh well, what are ya gonna do?

Was also wondering about the cans. We were warned about this before we moved here.

In my opinion, the big mistake that was made concerning KB's was making it a resident only 'club'. This made many believe that it was an amenity rather than a business. They felt that since they were already paying for KB's to exist, they were not obligated to spend more money. Then when it changed and then closed, the outcry of "more taken away from us" was clear. Taken away as if it belonged to them.

Trust me. You aren’t missing anything. Highly overrated.

KB’s was resident only from the beginning, in 2007, one had to be with a resident to get in, unless you were on a life style visit, and then you had a special card to enter. But as I mentioned in 2007 KB’s was packed every night, waitlist over an hour, for dinner and people were spending more than $100 for 2.

In 2007, LSL newly constructed homes were selling like hot cakes. Spanish Springs was booming because of the newbies. In 2008, the real estate market crashed and KB was nearly empty every night. Before Lake Sumter Landing, the residents did not spend time at Katie Belles. There was no interest in the bakery, the fresh vegetable store, Rialto, or the church. A few restaurants and shops came and went. Residents came to the square to listen the free music and that was pretty much it. I was a realtor and we set up a tent every Monday and Thursday with the other vendors. We did this for six years. Our spot was in front of Katie Belles. We could see that it was empty until 8 pm.

Outsiders would go into Katie Belles but the residents went home. We would joke, "don't expect a villager to stay past 9 p.m!" Like clockwork, the square emptied each night. Once they made KB residents only(again), it was busy because they were giving out free passes to people on Life Style Visits. They gave free passes to the Rialto, as well. Once LSL was complete, KB was empty and they made changes trying to lure the residents. The changes did not work.

The Rialto closed for renovation right before COVID-19 hit. Then, while it was closed, COVID-19 hit, and all theatres were closed down for the pandemic. The owners had no need or reason to continue renovation at that point, so they stopped. MPV (or whatever the Gym is called now) chose to move their fitness club to the Rialto, and now renovations are happening to accommodate a fitness center instead of a movie theatre.

I lived in NJ too, for 16 years. We would get off at exit 117 or 114, depending on which direction we were coming from. Exit at 114 from the Monmouth Mall or exit 117 from parts north.

We were more inclined to go to KB in the summer to see our favorite entertainers in the comfort of air conditioned air. We don't care to go to the squares in the hohum weather. This is the reason we miss KB.

That too!

This ^^^^^^^.

No trash cans in the LSL area either. I was wondering about that post too that mentioned "trash cans". I didn't think they were allowed anywhere in The Villages.

Turning the building into apartments will be great…….Another pool for anyone to use no questions asked!!

We visited here around 2005? I think, and we had a relative who took us there for lunch. Totally NOT impressed. Then when we moved here a couple years later, we went at night a few times. Saturday nights it was packed - you had to get there very early to get seating around the dance floor, and you couldn't just drink, had to order food. I think it was probably a pickup/singles venue but there were all sorts of people there. I remember having fun watching the dancers, some were almost at a professional level. And once the entertainment on the square ended, there would be even more people clamoring to come in. It was a really fun scene and it was packed. It did have the charm of a saloon, and the food for dinner upstairs at the Cattle Baron restaurant was on par with what you get at most of the country clubs, basically just okay, but you had a great view of the activity below. We took guests there for dinner, then dancing after, and they loved it. The remodel and moving things upstairs completely changed the ambience and people didn't come back.

The original Katie Belle's was a fun place to go. It was for Villagers only and was always packed. I used to go frequently and don't buy the excuse that patrons sipped lemon water. Many of us went for dinner and drinks and dancing. It was the only place to go and get dressed and dance indoors where I felt safe as a single woman. I'll never believe it didn't make money, only that the Developer had other plans. I miss Katie Belle's and I don't care if I am beating a dead horse. The Develper took that away as well as our movie theater.

So, you believe that 'The Developer' closed a business that was making money because of other plans. Interesting.

There are no trash cans anywhere in the villages. Visited katie bells twice, once downstairs on my lifestyle visit and once upstairs when it was revamped. Pretty unimpressive. Do not understand this clammer for a very average place.

We do t care how good it was at one time it’s gone not coming back time to move on.

True but that dead horse refuses to go away.

When downstairs it was booming every night, great music, inexpensive food and drinks, always crowded and everyone was having a good time. There was only one square at the time so all of the action was concentrated in that one area. Hasn't been anything like it since they closed. The upstairs was not the same.

No cans that I know of in TV. We have a much BETTER system in TV. I have garbage cans up north and for several reasons they are a nightmare.

It's dead, but let's keep bringing it up.........talking about the good old days (mostly fiction) and maybe, jus maybe our lives will improve.

:loco:

The good old days are always better, because we were younger with more life, more options, ahead of us…and our memories carefully edit out the bad that happened….

What are you saying?????

Though Katie Belle’s was before my time here in TV, it doesn’t sound like the kind of place I would have frequented. Correct me if I’m wrong, but it sounds like it was just an “indoor version” of what we already have at the town squares - Music, Dancing, Drinking - with the addition of bar food.

You forgot air conditioning in the hot months and heat in the colder months. BIG difference.

Katie Belle/Cattle Baron: "Upscale" (?!) Not at all surprised it closed, was never impressed. In fact, Cattle Baron in 2004-2005 was our Worst. Dining. Experience. Ever. Brought relatives there for an expensive dinner and my food came out raw, waitress was totally rude, and got zero satisfaction from manager. Paid way too much for a meal that had to be sent back twice and still inedible. Never went back. Good riddance.
Around that time frame, the buffalo and the only indoor lap pool were taken away from us. Those losses were a bummer! It was just the beginning of the downhill slide. TV is more like a cross between Stepford and The Dome, than Disney World for seniors. Oh wait, it still has similarities to Disney: Everything is way overpriced for what you get, which is standing in long lines to get into anything or shut out entirely due to capacity crowds. No thanks.
Sorry I had to vent, but I've given up even trying to use amenities since around 2015. I've paid off 2 entire freaking bonds and now stuck with a third, so yeah, no, I am definitely NOT getting my money's worth.
Okay, rant over.
:rant-rave: :sigh: :shrug:

So unhappy and yet bought 3 houses?

Optimist?

Katie Belles
 

Sad.
Just like Barnstorm Theater.
Decisions made with no regards as to the needs and wants of the residents.
Oh, we won’t be developing south of 44 except Fenney.
They (realtors say).
Lies all lies.

Misinformed?

Actually not bar food, dinner included a 12’ salad bar, with pretty much anything one could think of, some just got the salad bar as an entree.

In the beginning Food was good, seafood, lobster tails, steaks, chicken dishes, plus pasta. Nothing on the menu that we had to think twice about. Great services, large well staged bar area. Good selection of Dessert. Our average price for a meal for two was in the $100 range, with cocktails, and dessert.

No, unless you were there you wouldn't get it. There was an ambience, an energy present that you don't get at the squares. It was really a night club. People dressed up, there were really good dancers who wanted to show off their stuff; you felt like that's where the cool people were hanging out. It felt really fun and exciting. I remember being there and leaving feeling kind of exhilarated, something I don't get at the squares.

It's not good to hold on to such emotions for so long.

I truly miss the Sunday morning breakfast buffet. Whenever we had visitors KB was the first place we would take them.

I think you mean it felt like Lawremce Welk got resurrected in The Villages.